The Painted Boy - Charles de Lint

The Painted Boy

By Charles de Lint

  • Release Date: 2010-11-11
  • Genre: Coming of Age Fiction for Young Adults
Score: 5
5
From 26 Ratings

Description

Jay Li should be in Chicago, finishing high school and working at his family's restaurant. Instead, as a born member of the Yellow Dragon Clan-part human, part dragon, like his grandmother-he is on a quest even he does not understand. His journey takes him to Santo del Vado Viejo in the Arizona desert, a town overrun by gangs, haunted by members of other animal clans, perfumed by delicious food, and set to the beat of Malo Malo, a barrio rock band whose female lead guitarist captures Jay's heart. He must face a series of dangerous, otherworldly-and very human-challenges to become the man, and dragon, he is meant to be. This is Charles de Lint at his best!

Reviews

  • Fascinating Even Without the Dragons

    5
    By Kafka Sarstedt
    Fast paced, engrossing and well written, The Painted Boy contains the perfect ingredients to make it a best seller. Charles de Lint weaves a world of shape shifters and magic without over complicating explanations or leaving a reader feeling lost. Jay Li, dragon in training, exemplifies what it's like to try to find your place in the world-even without a cryptic Chinese grandmother- be it ordinary or magical. The characters are memorable, endearing and relatable from rock goddess, Anna, to barrio sweet heart Rosalie. Nothing is as it seems in The Painted Boy and the plot twists keep the reader on their toes. I loved how Charles de Lint proved through the actions of his characters that you don't have to be a mighty dragon to be a hero- but it does help ;P. The best teen book I've read all year!

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